Crystal Palace are safe for another season in the Premier League after a 2-1 victory away from home against Stoke City yesterday (Saturday).

The Eagles fought back from a goal down to record the win that means there will be Premier League football at Selhurst Park for a sixth successive season.

But the result means Stoke are now relegated, ending their ten-year stay in the top flight.

There were plenty of talking points arising from the game, and our Crystal Palace club writer Robert Warlow was at the Bet365 Stadium to discuss them, below.

Sakho and Tomkins – a case for the defence?

Crystal Palace have not exactly been renowned for their defensive solidity in recent seasons, perhaps with the exceptions of brief spells under Tony Pulis and Sam Allardyce.

But this season, the blossoming partnership of Mamadou Sakho and James Tomkins at the heart of the Palace defence has been key to the Eagles’ hopes of survival.

Crystal Palace's French midfielder Mamadou Sakho (C) celebrates with Crystal Palace's English defender James Tomkins after scoring their late winning goal in the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Stoke City at Selhurst Park in south London on November 25, 2017. Crystal Palace won the game 2-1. / AFP PHOTO / OLLY GREENWOOD / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read OLLY GREENWOOD/AFP/Getty Images)

There were signs last season when the pair played together, with Sakho and Tomkins impressing in the four games when they played alongside each other during the Frenchman’s loan spell from Liverpool, with Palace winning all four matches when they both started.

And following Sakho's signing on a permanent deal last summer, the pair have done so again.

In the ten games this season that they have started alongside each other in all competitions, Palace have not lost, with six wins and four draws in those matches.

Indeed, since Roy Hodgson took charge of Palace, the Eagles have only lost three times against teams from outside the current top six, with one of those being his first game in charge against Southampton.

The only other defeats came away from home against Newcastle United and Everton.

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Crystal Palace have won three of the past seven Premier League games in which they have trailed at half time, while Stoke have failed to win any of the four Premier League matches they have been leading at half-time under Paul Lambert.

Roy Hodgson embraces Patrick van Aanholt at the full time whistle after the Premier League match between Stoke City and Crystal Palace at Bet365 Stadium. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)

Admittedly, Palace have conceded several late goals, including against Bournemouth, who are statistically the comeback kings when it comes to late goals this season.

But Palace's knack of fighting back in games has certainly been key to the Eagles' survival, and is reflective of the season as a whole.

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Ahead of the game, Roy Hodgson said that with safety almost secured, he wanted to help Palace set new records in the Premier League.

And in ensuring their safety, Palace are now the first top flight team since Liverpool in the 1899-1900 season to avoid relegation despite losing their first seven Premier League matches.

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - MAY 05: James McArthur of Crystal Palace celebrates scoring his side's first goal with team mate Wilfried Zaha during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Crystal Palace at Bet365 Stadium on May 5, 2018 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)

But Palace could now go on to record their best Premier League finish (currently 10th), with the Eagles currently 11th in the table and level on points with Newcastle in tenth.

And with Leicester City just three points ahead in ninth, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Palace could even clinch ninth spot.

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